Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-24
JAIL MIN DS.
How the Inmates Of the District Prison
will Spend Christnsas.

PRISONERS AND THEIR HISTORIES.
Tnere Is one institution IN the District In which
mere Will be no stockings hung tomorrow night
to receive the gifts OF old Santa Claus There are
no little children In the District jail. While there
are q few boys there not over fifteen years OF age
In years, nearly all are some years older In crime
II VIII be seen that here Is place for the myth
heal Kris Kringle. And yet some Of the two hum
dred persons win know that Christmas Is here, 1or
according 70 custom those who have friends and
relatives 70 bring them something 10 remind them
Of the season VIII be allowed TO receive
A oHRrsTNAs DINNER,
With cakes candies and fruits. Sometimes the
unfortunate Will receive some such slight token as
pair Of slippers, pair OF suspenders or neck-tie,
and Il has often been noticed that when some poor
tm o. the law nsS TssDgnnea ths 1 do1S S me
most difIicult food some unfortunate prisoner has
attempted TO eat IN his little SKIS cel Is slice OF
cake made BY sisters band or Juicy Ininee PIE,
which he recognizes TO be OF mothers make.
HARDENED INMATES
There are many however, who seem 70 have lost
long since all tender feeling and, In fact, are Ut
terry callous as 70 home and friends. 1t Is Ques-
tOn whether some Of them have the least idea
Why Xmas Is observed, AMI, IN fact, from their
actieus-the complscelt nasner with which they
receive a sentence and enter their eeils-wnether
they have the remotest hiea OF being other than
law-oreakers when out and cOnvicts within for
the balance Of their lives A large percentage OF
the cOnviets are what are known as "repealers,
for scarcely q week passes that several are not
recognized as having Deen there before. Indeed,
a. has been Observed that the cry OF "fresh nsh-
Win which the newcomers were wont 20 De re-
we'd Is nor used 20 any such extent as formerly.
some idea OF the proportion OF repeaters may he
formed from the fact that In recent batch OIL Ten
prisoners sent 70 the Albany penitentlary four were
recognized by the jail officials former customer
The average number OF prisoners has gradually
ior SOM year run aOegS sTU
u know that the proportion OF BLACK ana Wnlte
has also changed from three 10 nye colored 10 one
white 10 from two 10 two and nail 10 one ThlS
4 aScribed 10 several cause.-the enlightenment
OF the cOlOred race, their improved nnanclal
ability 10 pay nes and 10 procure ball for appear
ance at court. As Is well know the large bulk OF
the cOlored population at the close oil the war
were unable 10 read and write, but now the larger
portion OF those In 1aI able TO WRITE and such
a humber OF prisoners take The STAR daily as to
pay a newsboy TO make rips there. Other papers
are also taken and the papers and tracts dis
Young Catholics Friend society and the Young
Mems Christian Association are received with
eagerness.
SUNDAY SERVICES.
On sunday mornings the Catholic young men
visit the cells talk 10 the prisoners and distribute
publications. In the afternoon OF sunday services
are held In the rotunda, conducted by delegates
from the y. VI. &. A. All prisoners who desire 10
attend these services are seated IN the rotunda;
appropriate exercises follow. There is evidently
good resulting from the efforts MADE, although
from a number OF instances In the past there Is
some reason 10 fear that there may be some 'play
ing the Gospel dodge" This has been successfully
done In the past generally TO enlist sympathy ana
influence In securing pardon. For the sane reason
been played, but generally they have been detected
CHICKEN THIEFs TRICK.
A few years ago an Old chicken thief named
Howard for several months prevented his trial
taking place by pretending TO have lost the use OF
HIS mind and limbs and refusing 10 eat. One
discovered the
his cell and when cut down for some time simu-
lated death. and afterward pretended 20 have be-
come helpless For seven weeks he lay notion
less his cot, and was fed with a spoon. and for
nine weeks pretended 70 have lost his voice His
win-power was wonderful, for he wlthstood the
piercing OF his leg with needle, ana received the
application Of galvanlc battery successfully until
hwas applied 10 his head when be suddenly re-
was tried and sentenced TO the pentenjiary. and
p now looked on as one OF the best prisoners at
Albany. Recently a prisoner attempted 10 play the
GIT DODGE
by having spasms. and these. by the way. were
something wonderful and for a time puzzled the
physician a. well the officers. These spasrns
would come on especially when visitors were
around and were OF such n character as 10 call
forth their sympathy. With gyrating limbs and
contortions OF the body. he worked himself into a
profuse peEpiratson, and red blotches would ap-
pear on his skin, and the spasm would then grad
ually 20 on. The officers, however, were sus-
pfcious and when requested 10 inform the De-
partmeDt OF Justice "a 10 his condition. in cOnse
queDce OF an application for hts pardon having
been filed, they desired more time TO study the
case. me time for which he was sentenced has
nearly expired. and the spasms have ceased The
experiences the officers had with old Howard and
with this will render 10 di1icult for prisoners
10 play 'possum either by the sick or Gospel
dodge.
TEE PRESENT OCCUPANTS OF THE JAIL
There are at present a total OF 2O3 prisoners in
the jail, Is OF whom are females, and but one OF
the latter white. The males number 1885, ofwhom
a ayxht la Is ,ha
main entrance and the prisoners are confined two
10 four In each room. There are l36 cells IN the
Wtn srrsnSed IN rows Of II on each Of tbe }onr
floors, and are by feet with 80 feet ceilings
The north wing Is occupied by the Police Court
end OF the corridor, stands the scaffOld on which
nine executions have taken place There are con-
nned In the south wing several some OF whom
may be called upon 10 eXpiate their crime upon IT,
PRISONERS AND THEIR CRIMES.
on Friday last Albert Green was convicted OF
having murdered James Lucas. near Rehoboth
Baptist church. on LIST, between and streets
southwest on September u last He is confined
IN cell No. H. on the west side Of the FIRST floor
south wing and Is apparently the least concerned
prisoner In the jail. and Is entirely Indifferent as
y hi. fate. on the evening OF his conviction he
Was wishing for knife 20 cut the throat OF "A
fellow prisoner. He appears 10 have but few II
any friends.
Lewis Williams. the colored boy who was tried
this week for The murder OF ex-Policeinan Alder,
lear Bennings on october last. is confined In
cell No. 10, On the east side Of the same hoor and
wing. He appears 10 be quiet unhardened boy
submitting 10 all the rules and hopes for the best
The old man. John Daily, indicted for the muir
Ger q =, G. G. hsnnedy; july ~ last Is In cell No
hams. He Is very peaceable and quiet. exercises
frequently, has a good appetite. and is growing
quite neshy and has good healthy color.
Jas Taylor, colored who was Indicted with Lee
for murder and saturday, on plea OF assault with
intent 70 XIII, was sentenced 10 TWO years at
Albany. Is IN cell No. 3, adjoining. He has been a
very quiet prisoner, and Is well satisfied With his